Canadian Citizenship Harder to get and easier to lose" Andrew Griffith Association of Canadian Studies/ Canadian Ethnic Studies Association Conference 24 October 2015
Agenda Policy context Statistics 2010 Changes and impact 2014 Changes and expected impact Longer-term implications and transition advice 2
Conservative Government Context Fearless advice and loyal implementation breakdown Ministerial certainty vs. arrogance of the expert Sharper ideological/values divide Evidence and anecdote Centre of gravity and priorities 3
Policy Context Global vs Local Citizenship: Facilitation vs. Meaningfulness Multiculturalism: Accommodation vs. Integration Shift towards meaningfulness and integration 4
Citizenship Take-up Foreign-born by Place of Birth, Eligible Europe Southern Asia Latin America Africa East and SE Asia West Central Asia, Mid-East Caribbean United States Oceania 625,000 1,250,000 1,875,000 2,500,000 Canadian Only Dual Nationals Non-Citizens 5
Citizenship Visible Minorities, Eligible or Not Total VisMin Southeast Asian Black Chinese South Asian Japanese West Asian Arab Latin American Filipino Korean Not VisMin 22% 14% 18% 19% 20% 24% 25% 28% 30% 32% 37% 2% 25% 50% 75% 100% Canadian only Dual nationals Non-Citizens 6
PRs, Applications, Citizens 2004 to 2014 300,000 250,000 200,000 150,000 100,000 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 Permanent Residents Applications New Citizens 7
Citizenship Take-Up 6 Years Since Landing vs All Years Since Landing 2014 80% 60% 79% 79% 76% 73% 71% 67% 62% 57% 49% 40% 20% 56% 50% 44% 47% 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 6 Years Since Landing All Years Since Landing 8
Citizenship Test Monthly Pass Rates 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 2011 2012 2013 2014 Nov 10 Dec 10 Jan 11 Feb 11 Mar 11 Apr 11 May 11 Jun 11 Jul 11 Aug 11 Sep 11 Oct 11 Monthly Rate Nov 11 Dec 11 Jan 12 Feb 12 Mar 12 Apr 12 May 12 Jun 12 Jul 12 Aug 12 Sep 12 Oct 12 Nov 12 Dec 12 Jan 13 Feb 13 Mar 13 Apr 13 May 13 9 6 Month Moving Average Jun 13 Jul 13 Aug 13 Sep 13 Oct 13 Nov 13 Dec 13 Jan 14 Feb 14 Mar 14 Apr 14 May 14 Jun 14 Jul 14 Aug 14 Sep 14 Oct 14 Nov 14 Dec 14 Jan 15 Feb 15 Mar 15 Apr 15 May 15
Impact 2010 Changes Percentage Decline by Country of Birth 2010-13 and 2014 Compared to 2005-9 Caribbean South Asian Southern & East African West Asian & Mid-East Central & West African Latin American North African East & SE Asian South European East European Oceania French West European British North American North European Overall Pass Rates 2005-9 96.3% 2010-13 82.7% 2014 90.3% -20% -15% -9% -4% 2% Percent Change 2010-13 from 2005-9 Percent Change 2014 from 2005-9 10
Changes 2010 Emphasis on history, military, responsibilities More rigorous knowledge test Language pre-assessment Anti-fraud 11
2014 Citizenship Act Residency and Testing Longer residency (4 out of 6), physical presence From honour system to residency questionnaire Intent to reside Knowledge and language required 14-65 Tax returns 12
2014 Citizenship Act Business Processes Removal of citizenship judges Ability to cancel incomplete applications Electronic means to verify citizenship. Soft commitment one year processing 13
2014 Citizenship Act Fairness Lost Canadians fix Fees from $100 to $530 Revocation Fraud: Ministerial discretion Terror and Treason and dual nationals 14
Radicalization Examples Dual vs Canadian Nationality Dual Nationals Canadian Only Canadians charged by the RCMP but still at large Canadians reported to be fighting or supporting extremists abroad, but not charged Canadians accused of possible terrorist links by other countries Recent trials Ferid Ahmed Imam Ahmad Waseem Maiwand Yar Hasibullah Yusufzai Mohammed Ali Sami Elabi Um m Haritha Omar Hassan Mohammad Ibrahim Abu Dujana al-muhajir Farah Mohamed Shirdon Faker Boussora Abderraouf Jdey Amer El-Maati Abu Ameenah Bilal Philips Hiva Alizadeh Misbahuddin Ahmed (revocation proceedings initiated) Collin Gordon Gregory Gordon John Maguire John Nuttal Amanda Karody Carlos Larmond Ashton Larmond 15
Implications Burden on low-income, less educated and refugees Further reduction in naturalization rate Weaker due process Challenges to revocation as unconstitutional likely 16
Broader Issues Dual nationality, diaspora politics and loyalty Global mobility vs. belonging competitiveness Declining naturalization rate and increased proportion of non-citizens Other: Voting rights, Birth tourism, Niqab ban 17
New Government Rebalancing (1) Preserve increased integrity and efficiency measures Citizenship test question rotation Physical presence for residency Language assessment Filing Canadian tax return 1 stop decision-making model abandoning incomplete applications Early symbolic changes Reduce fees from $530 to $300 Cancel Court revocation proceedings for dual nationals Administrative changes New Citizenship Study guide (replace Discover Canada) Set and report on service standards (one-year) 18
Legislative changes New Government Rebalancing (2) Abolish intent to reside provision Restore pre-permanent Resident time half-credit Revisit requirement for 14-17 years olds to be tested for knowledge and language Revisit citizenship decision making model (restoring GiC/ Court role or allowing for oral hearings) Remove revocation provisions for dual nationals for terror or treason 19
Other Machinery change unlikely (unadvisable) Strong or weak minister? Relative priority of citizenship vs immigration and refugees CIC organizational structure 20
Andrew Griffith Email: agriffith232@gmail.com Twitter: @andrew_griffith LinkedIn: andrewlgriffith Facebook: Andrew Griffith C&M Blog: www.multiculturalmeanderings.wordpress.com